Thursday, November 17, 2011

Bible Reading and Prayer

In this world today, everyone has a sense of what they think is right or wrong. Everyone knows what they think is good and what they think is bad. The big question is this: who is right? Who has the right standard? There are all sorts of ideas, but they can't all be correct. Only one is. So, what is right? What is wrong? What is just, and what is evil? There is only one who knows, and that is God. He made the Earth in six days just by speaking. He also set the holy standard for good and bad. Later on, throughout ancient history, God would reveal that standard to dozens of people, who, in turn, wrote those standards down. Eventually, through the will of the Almighty God, all those accounts would be put together into one book, the Bible. The Bible is the Story of man's salvation and is the standard by which man must live by. We want to know what is right. The only way to do that is to be regularly in God's Word. It is absolutely essential for us as God's teens to be regularly studying and reading God's word. Prayer is essential as well. Prayer is two-way communication. You aren't the only one talking. You speak to God, and God speaks to you in His word and in life. Like a soldier must check in with his commander to know his objective, we must continually check in with God to learn His plans for our lives. God has something uniquely marvelous or each of us individually. And He is going to work through it with you. Remember Jeremiah 29:11? God knows His perfect plan for you, but you won't know it, unless you are in constant contact with God. He is always there. God needs no voice mail. He doesn't put you on hold. He listens to you and answers your prayer. All the time. So read your Bible! Pray! Ask God what He has in store for you today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your life! If God doesn't show you the big picture, don't sweat it! God has it all under control. You just need to obey Him, and He will take you through life, step by step. Some people call reading your Bible and praying "quiet time." Whatever you call it, do it! Read your Bible! Pray! Strive to do it everyday! Within the hustle and bustle of life, plan a time for you and God.